Method of binding



H. SMITH METHOD OF BINDING Filed March 14. 1923 invention.

Patented Aug. 5, 1924.

HENRY SMITH, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

. METHOD or BINDING.

Application filed March 14, 1923. Serial N 0. 625,045.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Method of Binding, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of binding books, on of the objects of the invention being to provide a means whereby staples can be utilized for holding the leaves of a book properly assembled with the back or cover, the staples being so mounted as to allow the leaves to swing back freely from one extreme position to another so that the entire face of any leaf can be fully exposed.

A further object is to provide a method of binding which permits the use of ordinary stapling machines for applying staples of standard construction.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel steps in the method of binding to gether the leaves and back or cover of a book as will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings there has been shown a book, the parts of which have been assembled by the method constituting the present invention.

In said drawings Figure l is a plan view of a book produced by the method constituting the present the cover being opened.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line E3-2 Figure 1, the former being in position.

Figure 3 is a similar view without the former and showing some of the leaves folded back.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section on line -l-l Figure 3 showing a slightly modified construction.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates the back cover and 2 the front cover of the book, the same being connected by a flexible portion 3. Secured to one of the covers near the edge thereof are ordinary staples 4 adapted to be applied v and clinched by astapling machine. The

points of the staples can be extended toward each other as shown in Figures 2 and 3 or they can be extended in opposite directions as shown at 5 in Figure 4.

The binding operation necessitates the use of a former shown in section in Figure 2 and consisting of a base strip 6 having a longitudinal. groove in the top thereof for receiving a longitudinal rib 8 extending from the top strip 9 of the form-er. The leaves of the book are assembled in proper position on the cover 1 and the base strip 6 is placed against one edge of the stack of leaves after which the top strip 9 is placed on strip 6. This top strip has its upper surface rounded and is formed with a projecting flange 10 adapted to rest on the stack of leaves as shown in Figure 2. A staple 4: is then driven through the leaves and the cover 1 and clinched, the strips 6 and 9 serving to properly shape the staple while it is being applied. Obviously the application of the staples can be effected rapidly and after a set of staples has been properly positioned the strip 6 is withdrawn from under strip 9 and strip 9 thereafter removed. The leaves will therefore be held securely to the cover and while they will be permanently bound thereto by the staples they will nevertheless remain loose and can be folded back fiat as shown in Figure 3. The staples are not bulky and can be used as substitutes for the ordinary binding means without detracting from the appearance of the book. By clinching the staples they are held firmly to the cover and will hold the leaves properly assembled when stacked. .Vhile the staples have been illustrated as located along one free edge .of a cover, it is to be understood that they can be placed wherever desired either at any of th edges or at points between the edges.

What is claimed is:

The hereindescribed method of binding which consists in assembling a stack of separate leaves upon a cover, placing a former against one edge of the stack with a portion thereof overlapping the stack, and finally forcing a staple through the leaves and astride the former and clinching the staples to the cover.

In testimony that claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY SMITH.

'Witnesses i HERBERT D. LAWSON,

I. E. SIMPSON. 

